According to the Civil Aviation Administration of China, no passengers were injured during the scare, but the co-pilot suffered injuries to his face and lower back.Passengers on the flight from Chongqing Municipality bound for Tibetan capital Lhasa - both in south-western China - said the incident happened about an hour into their flight today, May 14.

The right windscreen panel in the cockpit of the Airbus A139 suddenly broke off, damaging part of the craft's control panel, reports said.

A flight attendant is understood to have also suffered injuries as the plane experienced a sudden drop in altitude, with images showing objects strewn across the cabin floor as a result.Oxygen masks were also deployed for the passengers, who have praised the pilot and first officer for ensuring their safety and avoiding a tragedy.

Aviation experts on social media have suggested the pilot wearing a short sleeve shirt would have had to land the craft in challenging conditions, such as low cockpit temperatures, strong winds and only partially functioning equipment.

Sichuan Airlines, which operates mainly domestic flights in China, called the incident "mechanical failure" in its official statement.